November 5th 2024.
As we enter our 20s, many of us see renting as a necessary step before we can purchase our own property. It's almost like a rite of passage. But the truth is, a large number of people in the UK are renting for much longer than they originally expected. In fact, according to data from the London Assembly, less than a third of people aged 20-39 in London own their homes, and the figure is only slightly higher for the rest of England at 41%.
We learn a lot of lessons during our time as renters, from the struggles of sharing a kitchen with strangers to the realization that a significant portion of our income goes towards rent. Metro recently spoke with six renters who shared some advice they wish they had known during their 20s. From spending money on a professional deep clean every few years to taking precautions when moving in, these renters have some valuable insights to share.
Lucy, 36, advises those planning to stay in their rental for a while to invest in a professional deep clean every few years. She learned this lesson after living in her previous rental for eight years and realizing that the one-off end of tenancy clean barely made a dent. While she acknowledges that her flat was in an old Victorian house and hadn't been updated in quite some time, she wishes she had kept up with regular deep cleans to make moving out easier and to simply have a nicer living space.
Alice, 31, regrets not investing in furniture or appliances during her eight years of renting. She saw renting as a temporary experience and didn't want to make the effort to move everything to a new place. But now, as she gets closer to being able to purchase her first home, she wishes she had made more memories during her time as a renter. She also recommends seeking help from organizations like ACORN, Citizens Advice, Shelter England, and the London Assembly if you have any issues with your flatmates or landlord.
Kristina, 34, has lived in house shares for eight years and has many fond memories. But as she starts to think about buying a house, she realizes the sacrifices she will have to make in terms of location and space. She encourages those in their 20s to enjoy the lifestyle that renting offers without feeling pressure to buy a house. She believes that our society puts too much emphasis on home ownership and that renting can be a valid choice as well.
Ashley*, 32, has lived in two flat shares, one where they had no arguments and became close friends, and one where they had constant issues. The difference? They had a regular cleaner in one flat but not the other. Despite the extra expense, Ashley highly recommends getting a cleaner to avoid drama and make your home a more pleasant place to live in.
Lastly, Sabrina, 30, shares a valuable tip: take photos of everything when you move in. This way, if your real estate agent tries to charge you for damages or missing items during the inventory check, you have proof of the condition of the property when you moved in. While not all agents are dishonest, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Do you have any renting experiences or tips to share? We'd love to hear from you. Feel free to email us at [insert email address].
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
